Vestibule end frame.



B. v'. H. JOHNSON. I VBSTIBULE END FRAME. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1812 1,,Q56 9Q5, Patenteai M21225, 1913.

BOONE V. H. JOHNSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

'vns'rIBunn END FRAME.

osaecs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed May 20, 1912. Serial No. 698,521.

To all whom 2'2? may concern Be it known that I, Boonn V. H. JOHN- soN, acitizen of the at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vestibule End Frames, of which the following. is a full, clear, and exact description, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it-appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vest-ibule end frame of my improved construction .vvith dotted lines illustrating the end structure of the car body to which the end frame is applied. Fig. 2 section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on. the\ line 8-3 of Fig. 1. F ig.4 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified form of the vmtibule end frame.

' This' invention relates generally to rail- Way passenger cars, and more particularly to an end reinforcing. member in the form of a frame, that is applied to the buffer beam or outer end of'the car platform.

In the construction of the present day type of railway cars, and particularly those cars used in passenger service, one of the prime objects of the car-builders is to provide a particularly strong reinforced end structure, that will effectually resist end shocks and crushing stresses, thereby reducing to a minimum-the tendency of the car bodies to telescope duringcollisions, and to this end various metal structures have been devised and are at present in general use, which structures include cast metal underframes, plat-forms, bufling' sills, onepiece underframes and reinforced corner posts. To further strengthen and reinforce the ends of cars, and toprovide a strong, rigid and substantial-structure at the we treme outer end. of theplatform, I propose to provide a skeleton castmetal frame, 10-

cated at the extreme outer end of the plat form, and combines readily with the butter beam, the vestibule posts and the end portions-of the continuous side sills to form a shock-absorbing and resisting structure that materially reinforces and strengthens the extreme ends of the car superstructure.

\ The principal object of my invention is United States, residing shock absorber,

is a horizontal .tions of the to provide an end frame particularly designed for use 'on vestibule "end cars, which frame, in case and provide a strong substantial resisting element atthe outer end of the platform, which is, in ordinary car construction, a substantial distance, in front of the ends of the car body.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive structure that will overcome the tendency of the sides of a vestibule frame to crumple, or swing inwardly due to the force of collisions, which action results in the formation of a wedge at the end of the car body and enables the underframe of one perstructure of the next adjacent car.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

car to penetrate the su COMMONWEALTH STEEL of collisions, will act as a Referring by numerals to the accompanyi ing drawings, 1 designates the end frame of a car body, 2 the platform, 3 the butter beam and 4 the side sills, which, in certain types of cars,for instance, cars having observation ends, are continuous from the underframe to the ends of the buffer beam.

My improved vestibule end frame as shown is formed in two main parts each of which comprises a'flanged base member, 5

preferably of inverted L-shape, whichrests directly upon the outer end of the platform casting or bufi'er beam.

Formed integral with the outer end of each base member 5 is a vertically disposed post 7, preferably channel-shape in horizontal section, which post gradually increases in width toward its lower end so that the latter has a Wide bearing on the forward end of the continuous side sill 4 or the end of the bufl'er beam. These corner posts are adapted to receive the lower porvestibule corner posts 8.

Formed integral with the inner end of each base member this a vertically disposed post. 9 that is preferably channel-shaped in cross sectiomand said'post receives the lower portion of the corresponding vestibule door post 10.

\Vhere my improved vestibule .end frame is applied to cars having observation platforms, which latter are constructed Without the posts or uprights 8 and 10, the two parts of the endii'ame are fixed in any suitable manner to the outer end of the plat-form at the sides of the passage way at the outer end of said platform and extend upward from said platform a suitable distance.

Formed integral with the base member 5 between the posts T and t) is an intermediate post ll preferably channel-shape in cross section, and connecting the upper ends of the posts 7. f). and 11 is a horizontally disposed rail l2.

Arranged between the lower portion of the posts 5) is a plate (3, that is fixed at its end to said posts in any suitable manner, preferably by means of rivets as shown or the parts may be castintegral. This plate rests directly upon the'butter beam and performs the functions of a vestibule door threshold plate.

In Fig. i the end frame is shown applied to a butter beam that is a part of a cast metal platform and underframe, this construction being provided for cars having the usual steps between the butter beam and end sill of the under-frame.

vestibule end frame of my improved construction is adapted to be readily combined with all existing types of cars having vestibule and. observation ends, and said frame, when properly positioned, unites with the underfranies and vestibule posts in forming a very strong, substantial structure that will resist severe end shocks and crushing stresses due to collisions, thereby materially reducing the tendency of cars to telescope and atl'ording a maximum degree of safety to life and property.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved vestibule end frame can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An integral vestibule endframe comprising a base member. and a series of uprights that. are adapted to engage the lower .port-ions of the vestibule corner and do r posts.

.3. An integral vestibule end frame com- PIISIHQ' a base member. a series ol uprights.

and rails connecting the upper portions of said uprights that are adapted to engage the lower portions of the vestibule corner and than ])()SlS.

21. An integral vestibule end frame comprising a flanged base member. and a series of flaw-ed uprights that are adapted to engage the lower portions of the \'t. lll)lllt corner and door posts.

4. An integral vestibule end t'rame comprising an invert d L-shaped base member. and channel-! bapetl uprights adapted to receive the lowtr portions of the vestibule door posts and the uprights'at the sides of the passage way at the outer end of the car platform.

5. A vestibule end frame comprising a pair of skeleton members adapted to engage thev platform and the lower portions of the vestibule door and corner posts, and a threshold plate connecting the lower inner corners of said skeleton members;

6. The combination with a car platform, of a vestibule end frame comprising a pair of skeleton members positioned on the platform to the sides of the vestibule door opening, which members are adapted to engage the lower portions of the vestibule door and corner posts, and a threshold plate between the lower portions of said skeleton members.

7. The combination with a car platform of ag'vestibule end frame rigidly fined to the outer end of the platform and projecting upwardly therefrom, and parts of which frame are. adapted to engage the vestibule door posts and the uprights at the sides of the vestibule passage wayleading from the outer end of the platform.

8. The combination with a car platform, of a vertically disposed frame applied to the end of said platform, and flanged members on said frame adapted to receive'the lower portions of the vestibule door posts and the uprights at the sides of the'vestibule passage way leadin' -g'. from the outer end of the platform.

9. The. combination with a car platform,- of an upright frame applied to the outer. end of the platform, and channel-shaped uprights forming a part of said frame adapted .to receive the lower portions of the vestibule door posts and the uprights at the sides of the vestibule passage way leading from the outer end of the platform.

10. The combination with a car platform buffer beam and westibule posts, of a vertically disposed one-piece frame applied to the miter end of the platform and engaging the lower portions of the vestibule posts the .top of which frame occupies a position intermediate of the platform and car hood.

11. The combination with a car platform and vestihuleposts, of a skeleton frame applied to the end of the platform, and vertically disposed posts forming a part of said vestibule end frame, which posts are adepted to receive the lower portions of the vestibule posts and the top of which frame is positioned intermediate "of the car platform and hood.

1). The combination with dear platform. of a pair of vertically disposed cast metal frames applied to the outer end of said plat form on opposite sides of the passage way at the outer end of said platform, each of which frames comprises an inverted L- shaped bottom rail adapted to engage the top and outer end face of the platform, a top rail, and a series. of upright members hetween said top and bottom rails.

13. The combination with a car platform of a pair of vertically disposed frames applied to the outer end of said platform which frames are adapt-ed to engage the lower portions of the vestibule corner posts and vestibule door posts and a threshold plate arranged between the lower inner corners of said frames.

14. The combination with a car platform of a pair of cast metal skeleton frames applied to the outer end of said platform, vertically disposed members forming parts of said cast metal frames which vertically disposed members receive the lower portions of the vestibule corner posts, and the Vestibule door posts, and a threshold plate arranged between the inner lower portions of the upright members that receive the vestibule door posts. a

15. The combination with a car platform, of a pair of cast metal skeleton frames ap-' plied to the outer end of said platform to the sides of the vestibule passage way leading from said platform, each of which frames comprises a bottom rail, a top rail,

plied to the outer end of said platform to'' the sidesof the vestibule passage way, each of which frames comprises a base member adapted to engage the end sill of the platform, a series of upright members, which are substantially channel shaped and adapted to engage the lower portions of the vestibule passage way and corner posts and a rail connecting the upper portions of said up right members. 1 a

I In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of twp witnesses, this 24th." day of April, 1912.

BOONE V. H. JOZEII SOIJ.

Witnesses:

HAL C. BELLVILLE, FRED H. BLANKENHORN. 

